I have never swam in an open water event. I started swimming again in january in a 25 meter pool. I can comfortable swim 1500 meters in 24 minutes (no flip turns). Realizing open water has tides/currents etc. I am attempting to calculate what I might be able to swim a mile in open water. Any thoughts? Also, how many meters should I be training on a weekly basis to swim 4.4 miles. I am 46. Thanks..
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I agree that it is not possible to compare lap-swimming times with open water swimming times. There are too many factors involved, especially currents, wind and navigation.
I swim in 2 3KM races this summer in 56 and 58 minutes. Then I did a crossing of the Strait of Messina, which is 3.3KMs. This was NOT a race, just a crossing, and since I had 2 paraplegic friends in the group, I started out swimming with them. I swam on my back a lot to see the view of Sicily fading away in the distance, and did some *** stroke to see the coast of Calabria approaching (it's a GORGEOUS swim!) Even though I took my time, the swim took only 45 minutes thanks to favorable currents, and experienced boat pilots (one boat is required per swimmer by law) who navigated us wonderfully! Even the slowest swimmers made it within one hour.
Speaking with a disabled swimmer friend of mine this weekend at the race in Lerici, he told me that he did a 2-way crossing of the Strait 2 years ago. It took him 36 minutes one-way, and an hour and 41 minutes for the return. Does that tell you something?
Have fun!
I agree that it is not possible to compare lap-swimming times with open water swimming times. There are too many factors involved, especially currents, wind and navigation.
I swim in 2 3KM races this summer in 56 and 58 minutes. Then I did a crossing of the Strait of Messina, which is 3.3KMs. This was NOT a race, just a crossing, and since I had 2 paraplegic friends in the group, I started out swimming with them. I swam on my back a lot to see the view of Sicily fading away in the distance, and did some *** stroke to see the coast of Calabria approaching (it's a GORGEOUS swim!) Even though I took my time, the swim took only 45 minutes thanks to favorable currents, and experienced boat pilots (one boat is required per swimmer by law) who navigated us wonderfully! Even the slowest swimmers made it within one hour.
Speaking with a disabled swimmer friend of mine this weekend at the race in Lerici, he told me that he did a 2-way crossing of the Strait 2 years ago. It took him 36 minutes one-way, and an hour and 41 minutes for the return. Does that tell you something?
Have fun!
